1st time Pro Bowler Jones 1 of 6 Ravens headed to Hawaii

OWINGS MILLS - Jacoby Jones's last time at M&T Bank Stadium prior to this season was also his last game in a Houston Texans uniform.

His fumble on a first quarter punt return during last year's AFC divisional playoff game set up a short Ravens touchdown and proved crucial in Baltimore's 20-13 victory over Jones and the Texans.

Jones was released by Houston less than four months later, marking the end to a frustrating five-year tenure with the Texans, one during which Jones showed flashes of big-play potential but was also plagued by inconsistency and ill-timed errors like the fumble in the divisional playoff game.

With Baltimore, the speedy Jones has put those big plays together on a consistent basis while emerging as one of the NFL's most dynamic return specialists. Jones was named to his first Pro Bowl Wednesday, earning the nod as the AFC's return specialist.

"It means a lot, being able to say you're one of the elite of the elite," Jones said. "(It's) tough to do and it takes a lot of consistency and hard work."

Jones leads the NFL in kick return average (32.1 yards per return) and has three returns for scores - two kickoffs and one punt. The three touchdown returns are the most in the NFL this season, as are the two scores on kick returns.

Jones had an NFL-record tying 108-yard kick return for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, his first game as the Ravens' primary kick returner after replacing Deonte Thompson. Jones added a 105-yard kick return for a score during Baltimore's win against the Oakland Raiders three weeks later, becoming the first player in NFL history with two kick returns of 105 yards or longer.

He also had what proved to be a crucial 63-yard punt return for a score amid the Ravens' 13-10 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.

Jones is the first player in Ravens franchise history to tally three return touchdowns in a single season.

Jones also had 27 catches for 370 yards and a touchdown on offense.

"He's been humungous," said Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard, a former teammate of Jones's in Houston. "Special teams, offense, he's a guy that can stretch the field and, on special teams, you can scheme some things up and the guy can go."

Jones was one of six Ravens selected to this year's Pro Bowl.

Safety Ed Reed, defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, running back Ray Rice, right guard Marshal Yanda and fullback Vonta Leach were named to the Pro Bowl in addition to Jones.

Baltimore's had at least five players selected to the Pro Bowl each of the last five seasons.

"It really is a great thing," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "That's something that you really feel so good for those guys, especially a number of guys that have made it a number of years in a row ... and then all the guys that are doing it for the first time. It's just a great thing.

"And, I think most of us look at it like it's a team thing. Vicariously, we all take pride in that. When a guy makes it on offense, all the guys on offense feel like they were a part of that. It's a big deal."

Reed was selected to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time in his 11-year NFL career. The veteran safety has recorded 58 tackles and is tied for the team-lead with four interceptions. He also leads Baltimore in fumble recoveries (3) and is second on the team in pass deflections (16).

Ngata has played through a sprained knee and injured shoulder for much of the season, but has 51 tackles and five sacks. Ngata has made the Pro Bowl each of the last four seasons.

Leach and Rice will each be making their third trip to the Pro Bowl. The bruising 6-foot, 260-pound Leach - widely considered the best fullback in the NFL - has helped pave the way for Rice to rush for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns. Rice also has 61 catches for 478 yards and a score. He ranks second in the AFC in yards from scrimmage per game (107.7).

Yanda has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons.

Safety Bernard Pollard was chosen as a first alternate. Pollard leads the Ravens with 98 tackles despite missing each of the last two games.

"Honestly, we've got guys that didn't make it that should've been going to the Pro Bowl, but that's the type of team we have," Jones said. "We've got a lot of firepower and a lot of weapons."